Favorite US President EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Csargo]

Who is your favorite President of the US?

Mines FDR

[Keba]

Woodrow Wilson ...

Not really rational, my first ever thesis written was on his points and the League of Nations, so I just like him.

That and he was a bit of a pacifist, only going to war when he had to.

[Grey_Fox]

Err...

Wrong forum perhaps?

Anyways, Wilson wanted to get into the war, the only problem was he had to convince the American public, which was rather easily done considering the Germans were sinking British ships that had a fair number of American civilians on board.

[ShadesPanther]

nyways, Wilson wanted to get into the war, the only problem was he had to convince the American public, which was rather easily done considering the Germans were sinking British ships that had a fair number of American civilians on board.

Well sorta, but the Zimmerman Telegram really swung it.

As for favourite President....
Freddy Roosevelt I guess but it's close

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

To quote Gigagia, SCC:

I want to say, that I think the greatest US president ever is the great George W. Bush. He is so wonderful, I would nominate him for a third term if I had a chance.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

He was being sarcastic. The man's a Liberal.

[AntiochusIII]

As for favourite President....
Freddy Roosevelt I guess but it's close

Freddy? I've never heard of FDR being referred to as such before. Or are you talking about Teddy, Theodore Roosevelt?

[Strike For The South]

Robert E Lee LBJ. IVE BEEN TO HIS HOUSE!

[Reverend Joe]

Freddy? I've never heard of FDR being referred to as such before. Or are you talking about Teddy, Theodore Roosevelt?

Theodore! He's my favorite. A real socialist who put the leashes on the trusts, was one of the ealy conservationists, and yet also reaffirmed the Monroe doctrine, and set America on the road to imperialism, bigtime. We lost that later, when we stopped focusing on the idea of being a true emire, and instead propped ourselved up on the pretentious pedestal of "world peacekeeper". Teddy was also a monster of a man, figuratively speaking; he was a latter-day renaissance man, keeping active and vigorous into his later years, before his expedition into the Amazon basin shortened his life so severely.

The Great White Fleet, anyone?

[Atilius]

Abraham Lincoln.

Written shortly after the victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in the summer of 1863:

Peace does not appear so distant as it did. I hope it will come soon, and come to stay, and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future time. It will then be proved that among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet, and that they who take such appeal are sure to lose their case and pay the cost. And then there will be some black men who can remember that, with silent tongue and clenched teeth and steady eye and well-poised bayonet, they have helped mankind on to this great consummation, while I fear there will be some white ones unable to forget that, with malignant heart and deceitful speech, they have strove to hinder it.

His sense of the sublime was matched by his appreciation of the ridiculous:

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

[dracosean]

my favorite president would have to be for teddy.

[rotorgun]

Definately Abraham Lincoln. I don't know of any other President, except FDR perhaps, who was more eloquent, longsuffering, and steadfast to his obligation to the United States. He could say more in one paragraph than a multitude of books could convey. We could sure use someone of his character in the white house now. Our debt to him is immense, for only he could envision the final victory and national reconciliation following the War between the States.

PS: @evil maniac from mars- I've heard it said...George W. Bush is analogous to a mail clerk who somehow became the CEO of a major corporation, who should have never left the mail room. As for me I would vote for PM Tony Blair before I would for George W. Bush.....no offense intended to our British or European freinds out there.

[AntiochusIII]

At first I thought it should've been a poll, then I realized that a poll with 40-something choices would be quite unreasonable, and one must always be impartial to establish a decent poll. No barring out Calvin Coolidge or something similar...

So I've decided to answer my own choice here:

Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Probably the most influential American President of the 20th century, FDR has reigned for longer than any other Presidents, and arguably accomplished much more. His "New Deal" tackled the worst economic depression that hit the 20th century world, laid the foundation of a system of social net, albeit currently haphazardly managed, that was nonexistent in the quite unpleasantly social darwinist American society prior to his time; his projects inspired the massive development of the West from "frontier lands" into economic powerhouses; his international conduct--though not exactly perfect or ideal--arguably put the United States at the forefront among the Allies, helped in saving the world from Nazism, as well as helping laid the foundation of the United Nations with the Atlantic Charter and other diplomatic initiatives. Not many American Presidents succeeded in so much; of course, such a career would be filled with not a few mistakes, but it was still a spectacular "reign." What's most important in my mind, however, is not what he had done, but what he hadn't done: he did not push himself for a dictatorial position the way many leaders did in their respective nations, relying on the economic depression, but tried his best to save a chronically falling system.

Not to mention the fact that his time was the first time those utterly demonized modern liberals in America had their chance for glory and experimentation in full force, unhampered, or less hampered, by the conservative climate, and consequently his demonization by the Right.

It would seem, though, that Teddy is popular with the crowd...

[Seamus Fermanagh]

George Washington.

Offered a monarchy by some, he squelched the notion.

He exercised power without loving it.

Encouraged to run for office yet again (and perpetually) he returned to his farm.


Lincoln is a towering figure in many ways, and Booth harmed the South that evening far more than he could have known, but something about the personal decency and sense of restraint Washington brought to the office set a high mark for all who followed him to work at achieving.

[Aenlic]

I agree with Seamus.

The last person who should have the job is the one who wants it. Washington was the last president who didn't want the job. All the others after have been politicians. Politicians do what is expedient or popular rather than what is right. Politicians are in the business of getting elected and re-elected because they want the job. They tell the electorate what they think it should hear rather than what it should hear; or, as is sometimes the case, what the electorate wants to hear rather than what it should hear. ;)

[ShadesPanther]

Freddy? I've never heard of FDR being referred to as such before. Or are you talking about Teddy, Theodore Roosevelt?

I meant Teddy

[Don Corleone]

I liked TR too, but I'm going to have to take issue with Zorba on defining TR as a Socialist. He actually limited the power of unions as much as any corporation. Despite TR's shameless self-promotion in this area, the true "Trust-buster" was his handpicked successor, WH Taft.

TR didn't believe in price controls, unemployment, welfare, abortion (yes, it was an issue, even back then), universal suffrage or any of the other left issues of his day. Calling him a socialist... well, I suppose you can define the term 'socialist' as you see fit Zorba. You're the first I personally have ever seen use the term in this setting. Populist, sure. But Socialist?... Hmmm....

[yesdachi]

Well, they say bigger is better so I’ll vote for Taft.

But honestly Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose boldness has always had a real appeal to me (perhaps because we haven’t had a president like that since). I’ll also give props to Ronald Reagan, who I think really helped to shape the US into what it is today.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Favorite: FDR, maybe Abraham Lincoln

Least favorite: George W. Bush OR Nixon

[Ice]

Harry Truman. He had some big balls to order the bomb to be dropped on Japan. He also wanted from rags to riches to become our president. He sold hats, at one time, in NY City.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Harry Truman. He had some big balls to order the bomb to be dropped on Japan. He also wanted from rags to riches to become our president. He sold hats, at one time, in NY City.

Killing innocent people isn't so great is it? 100-220,000 is a lot of innocent people you know...

And that's not even counting radiation...

[Geezer57]

Washington should always come first, but I hold Lincoln is very high regard too. He stood head-and-shoulders above his contemporaries (literally as well as figuratively!). Too bad he couldn't have finished his second term - the South would not have suffered nearly as much under a Lincoln reconstruction...

From a later period, Teddy Roosevelt has to be considered something of a larger-than-life figure. He accomplished so much, and did so with so much verve, you just have to admire the man.

Of Presidents in my lifetime, I'd have to rate Eisenhower at the top - none of the Chief Executives since have been of his caliber.

[Ice]

Killing innocent people isn't so great is it? 100-220,000 is a lot of innocent people you know...

And that's not even counting radiation...

How many do you think typical bombing runs killed? How many American and Japanese lives would an invasion cost?

Killing is never great, but sometimes it has to be done, one way or another.

[screwtype]

Woodrow Wilson ...

Not really rational, my first ever thesis written was on his points and the League of Nations, so I just like him.

That and he was a bit of a pacifist, only going to war when he had to.

You obviously didn't learn much about him in that exercise then.

[Goalie]

Eisenhower rules!

[screwtype]

George Washington.

Offered a monarchy by some, he squelched the notion.

He exercised power without loving it.

Encouraged to run for office yet again (and perpetually) he returned to his farm.

Washington certainly sounds like a contender, at least from this article I just happened to read last night.

I don't know if I have a favourite US President - most of them said, or did, pretty objectionable things at one time or another - but I've found things to admire about Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln and FDR.

[Atilius]

He sold hats, at one time, in NY City.

Kansas City, Ice.

There is an awful lot to like about Truman. He served in WWI, rising to the rank of Colonel. He was the last man to reach the presidency without receiving a college education. In spite of this he was remarkably well read, especially in history.

I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell

.

Theodore! He's my favorite. A real socialist...

As the Don says, TR was definitely not a socialist. He can fairly be called a Progressive - the actual name of the "Bull Moose Party", whose candidate he was in the 1912 presidential race, was the Progressive Party. He was also the author of a book titled Progressive Principles (1913).

TR published at least one scholarly paper on birds.

[Ice]

Kansas City, Ice.

Really? I always heard NY. Thanks though.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Reagan.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

How many do you think typical bombing runs killed? How many American and Japanese lives would an invasion cost?

Killing is never great, but sometimes it has to be done, one way or another.

Food for thought I guess...

[Csargo]

Definately Abraham Lincoln. I don't know of any other President, except FDR perhaps, who was more eloquent, longsuffering, and steadfast to his obligation to the United States. He could say more in one paragraph than a multitude of books could convey. We could sure use someone of his character in the white house now. Our debt to him is immense, for only he could envision the final victory and national reconciliation following the War between the States.

PS: @evil maniac from mars- I've heard it said...George W. Bush is analogous to a mail clerk who somehow became the CEO of a major corporation, who should have never left the mail room. As for me I would vote for PM Tony Blair before I would for George W. Bush.....no offense intended to our British or European freinds out there.

You should know your American history

Even if your not American